The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed tripartite acknowledgment that Tasmania’s National Parks should remain sacrosanct from logging, mining and grazing.
The Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP today brought on debate in Private Members Time on a motion endorsing the principle, as defined under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, that Tasmania’s National Parks are to be “protected and managed for their recognised natural and cultural values for current and future generations”.
“National Parks are protected for their own intrinsic values as havens of biodiversity, and for the benefit of everyone including future generations,” Ms O’Connor said.
“They are not created for the personal and short-term enrichment of a few private resource companies.”
“There is an alarming pattern emerging from Liberal Coalition state governments around the nation, of eroding National Park protections and handing over wilderness areas to private companies.”
“This must never happen in Tasmania where our world-class National Parks are not only a haven for an amazing array of species, but are integral to our cherished international brand.”
“Rest assured that any move to allow prospecting, mining, native forest logging and harvesting, or livestock grazing within Tasmania’s National Parks will be met with swift and angry opposition by the Tasmanian community.”
• In Victoria, the Napthine Liberal Coalition State Government is currently considering prospecting icenses within National Parks and is also pushing to permit cattle grazing.
• The Queensland Newman Liberal National State Government has moved to permit cattle grazing within National Parks, and has foreshadowed logging in National Parks and areas earmarked for protection.”
• The Newman government has also announced plans to repeal Queensland’s internationally recognised Wild Rivers Act, and reverse the state’s landclearing laws.
• The O’Farrell Liberal Coalition State Government in New South Wales has moved to allow recreational hunting within National Parks, at a cost of $19 million to the taxpayer to implement, and is also trialling stock grazing in National Parks.”
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment Spokesperson
